Experts say it is not easy to get used to life in a new culture. “ Culture shock” is the term these experts use when talking about the feelings that people have in a new environment. There are three stages of culture shock, say the experts. In the first stage, the newcomers like their new environment. Then, when the fresh experience dies, they begin to hate the city, the country, the people and everything else. In the last stage, the newcomers begin to adjust to their surroundings and, as a result, enjoy their life more.
There are some obvious factors in culture shock. The weather may be unpleasant. The customs may be different. The public service systems---the telephone, post office ,or transportation --may be difficult to work out. The simplest things seem to be big problems. The language may be difficult.
Who feels culture shock? Everyone does in this way or that. But culture shock surprises most people. Very often the people having the worst culture shock are those who never had any difficulties in their home countries and were successful in their community. Coming to a new country, these people find they do not have the same established positions. They find themselves without a role, almost without an identity. They have to build a new self-image.
Culture shock causes a feeling of disorientation (迷惘). This feeling may be homesickness. When homesick, people feel like staying inside all the time. They want to protect themselves from the strange environment, and create an escape inside their room for a sense of security. This escape does solve the problem of culture shock for the short term, but it does nothing to make the person familiar with the culture. Getting to know the new environment and gaining experience--these are the long-term solutions to the problem of culture shock.
1.According to the passage, the more successful you are at home, _________________.
A.the fewer difficulties you may have abroad |
B.the more difficulties you may have abroad |
C.the more money you will earn abroad |
D.the less homesick you will feel abroad |
2..Which of the following is NOT right according to the passage?
A.“Culture shock” is a term used to describe the feelings that people experience in a new environment |
B.In the second stage of “ Culture shock”, people may hate the life in the new environment |
C.When you are homesick, you had better not stay at home all the time |
D.Every one of us doesn’t feel culture shock in this way or that |
3..What is the main idea of the last paragraph?
A.Escape unfamiliar environment |
B.The feeling of homesickness |
C.The best way to overcome (克服、战胜)culture shock: get familiar with the new culture |
D.Homesickness can solve the problem of culture shock |
Towards the end of Middle English, a sudden change in pronunciation started, with vowels being pronounced shorter and shorter. From the 16th century the British had contact with people from around the world. This means that many new words and phrases entered the language. The invention of printing also meant that there was a common language in print. Books became cheaper and more people learned to read. Spelling and grammar became fixed and the dialect (方言)of London became the standard. In 1604, the first English dictionary was published.
The numbers of words in Early Modern English and Late Modern English differ. Late Modern English has a lot more words because of two main factors: firstly, the Industrial Revolution created a need for new words; secondly, the British Empire covered one quarter of the earth’s surface, and the English language took in foreign words from many countries.
From around 1600, the English colonization(殖民地化)of North America resulted in the creation of American English. Some English pronunciation and words froze when they reached America. In some ways, American English is more like the English of Shakespeare than modern British English. Some expressions that the British call “ Americanisms” are in fact original (原先的)British expressions that were preserved (保存) in the colonies but were lost in Britain. Spanish also had an influence on American English, with words like canyon, ranch, stampede and vigilante being examples of Spanish words that entered English. French words and West African words also influenced American English.
Today, American English is the most influential(有影响力的). But there are many other kinds of English around the world, including Australian English, New Zealand English, Canadian English, South African English , Indian English and Caribbean English. They have differences.
1.What can we know from Paragraph 1?
A.The dialect of London became the standard in the year 1604. |
B.Vowels were pronounced longer towards the end of Middle English |
C.The first English dictionary was published in the early 17th century. |
D.Many new words entered English because many people moved to Britain. |
2.From Paragraph 2, we know that the Industrial Revolution __________.
A.required spelling and grammar to be fixed |
B.required a greater number of English words |
C.caused many old English words to be useless |
D.led to the English colonization of North America. |
3.The underlined word “froze” in Paragraph 3 shows that some English words in America___________.
A.became longer |
B.greatly changed |
C.a little changed |
D.stayed as they were |
4.What will the paragraph following this passage most probably discuss?
A.The development of Modern English |
B.How the English vocabulary became larger |
C.Differences among the different kinds of English |
D.Differences between Middle English and Modern English |
March, April and May are months full of festivals and events all over the world. Here are some wonderful festivals around the world that happen in spring.
SongKran--Thailand
Dates: 13th-15th, April
In Thailand, it’s time to celebrate the coming monsoon season, which will bring the rain many people have been looking forward to. They celebrate it with a festival called Songkran, when people head out to the streets with water guns to spray(喷,洒)everyone who walks past. If you walk on the streets where the festival is celebrated, prepare to get soaked!
Naghol--Vanuatu
Dates: Every Saturday from April to May
Every year, villagers come together to celebrate the harvest of yams, an important part in the peopls’s diet in Vanuatu. The festival is most famous for its “land diving ceremony”. During the ceremony men and boys dive to the ground from high wooden towers with only two thin vines attached(附于)to their ankles(脚踝). The divers’ heads have to lightly touch the ground when they jump---something very dangerous if the vines are not measured(测量)properly.
Cherry Blossom Viewing ---Japan
Dates: The cherry blossom season is different from year to year depending on the weather forecast.
The cherry blossom season has huge importance to the people of Japan, who celebrate the days when the flowers finally blossom. Only a few days later, the petals(花瓣) fall to the ground, like pink snowflakes. This is one of the most beautiful things to see. In Japan, almost everyone has picnics in the parks to view the flowers.
Sinhalese New Year--Sri Lanka
Dates: 13th or 14th, April
Just like in many other countries in South an South East Asia, this is the time when the Sinhalese celebrate the traditional New Year, an ancient celebration which marks the end of the harvest season and is one of two times of the year when the sun is straight above Sri Lanka. There are a lot of delicious foods during the celebration.
1.. What does the underlined word “ soaked” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?
A.tired |
B.wet |
C.crazy |
D.interested |
2.The writer thinks that the “land diving ceremony” can be dangerous for the divers because ___________.
A.the divers may fall onto the ground if the thin vines break |
B.the divers may bump into (撞在…上)the wooden tower on the way down |
C.the divers’ ankles may get injured if the vines are tied too tightly |
D.the divers may injure(伤害)their heads if the vines aren’t measured properly |
3.We can learn from the passage that__________________.
A.the Cherry Blossom Celebration usually lasts a long time in Japan |
B.the Cherry Blossom Celebration is the most important festival in Japan |
C.the time for the Cherry Blossom Celebration in Japan can be different yearly |
D.people usually stay at home for celebration during the cherry blossom season. |
A poor farmer had a friend who was famous for the wonderful apples he grew. One day, his friend ___36__ him a young apple tree and told him to take it home and __37____it.
Seeing the gift, the farmer was very__38____, and he thought he would also have a lot of wonderful apples, but when he got home, he had a(n) ___39__. He didn’t know___40___ to plant it. He thought over and over and __41___ every place he could think of. __42____ he decided to plant the tree in his woods. There were many high trees with thick leaves in the woods. With those trees around no one else could___43___ the young apple tree. He even felt proud of himself for finding so___44___ a place for the apple tree. Every day he went to take care of the tree, __45___ it. To his surprise and ___46___, the apple tree didn’t grow as he had __47___. It died without sunlight and good soil.
Later the friend asked the farmer why he had planted the tree in such a __48__ place. “ What’s the difference?” the farmer said angrily, “ If I had planted the tree near the___49____, passers-by would have stolen the fruit. If I had planted the tree in one of my fields, my neighbours would have come at night and ___50___ some of the apples! If I had planted it near my house, my own children would have taken the ___51_. No matter where I plant the tree, I can’t have__52____ to enjoy the apples. So there is no difference where I planted it.”
“ Yes,” said the friend, “but __53____ someone could have enjoyed the fruit. Now you not only have robbed everyone of the fruit, but also have __54___ a good apple tree! You don’t know the true meaning of ‘share’!”
We should learn to __55___ in our life, The more you want to own something all by yourself, the less you get at last.
1..
A.lent |
B.gave |
C.sold |
D.bought |
2..
A.study |
B.keep |
C.plant |
D.develop |
3..
A.tired |
B.sad |
C.angry |
D.happy |
4..
A.surprise |
B.worry |
C.accident |
D.question |
5..
A.where |
B.how |
C.when |
D.whether |
6..
A.practiced |
B.tried |
C.visited |
D.considered |
7. |
|
8. |
|
9..
A.beautiful |
B.secret |
C.unusual |
D.faraway |
10..
A.watering |
B.watching |
C.correcting |
D.appreciating |
11..
A.pleasure |
B.excitement |
C.disappointment |
D.satisfaction |
12..
A.known |
B.said |
C.expected |
D.heard |
13. |
|
14. |
|
15. |
|
16..
A.leaves |
B.flowers |
C.fruit |
D.tree |
17..
A.rights |
B.time |
C.chances |
D.interest |
18. |
|
19..
A.destroyed |
B.thrown |
C.pulled |
D.won |
20. |
|
----Do you mind choosing Peter to be the new chairman? ----___________.
A.Of course. He is the best choice. |
B.Certainly not. We can’t find a better one. |
C.Yes, I do. He is the most suitable person |
D.No, I don’t. I don’t think he is the suitable person. |
---I am sure you met Alice at the party last week.
---I don’t remember her. What ______ she ______?
A.was; wearing |
B.had; worn |
C.did; wear |
D.would; wear |